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Winter Olympics Day 2: Russia Wins Its First Gold and 28 Stunning Photos

The host of this year's Winter Olympics, Russia, finally won its first gold medal on day two of the games, during the team figure skating competition.

Evgeni Plushenko and Julia Lipnitskaia snagged the gold for Russia by winning the free skates competition. Russia continued to do well in other medal rounds, winning three more medals. Olga Graf won the bronze in the women's 3,000-meter speed skating event, and Olga Vilukhina won the silver in the women’s 7.5-kilometer sprint in biathlon. To round off Russia's medals tally, Albert Demchenko won a silver in the men’s luge event.

Norway continues to lead the way with seven total medals. History was also made today as Jenny Jones won Britain’s first bronze medal in the women’s slopestyle competition. Despite Britain's win, Team USA still swept the women's slopestyle event, with Jamie Anderson winning the gold on Sunday.

Keep reading for today’s full medal recap and the most powerful photos.

The Medalists of Men's Downhill Alpine Skiing Event

(L-R) Silver medalist Christof Innerhofer of Austria, gold medalist Matthias Mayer of Austria and bronze medallist Kjetil Jansrud of Norway celebrate on the podium during the medal ceremony for the Alpine Skiing Men's Downhill on day two of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics at Medals Plaza on Feb. 9, 2014 in Sochi, Russia.

Image: Streeter Lecka/Getty Images/Associated Press

Practicing Ahead

Olga Vilukhina of Russia practices ahead of the Women's 7.5 km Sprint during day two of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics at Laura Cross-country Ski & Biathlon Center on Feb. 9, 2014 in Sochi, Russia.

Image: Harry How/Getty Images

Women's 7.5km Sprint

Zanna Juskane of Latvia competes in the Women's 7.5 km Sprint during day two of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics at Laura Cross-country Ski & Biathlon Center on Feb. 9, 2014 in Sochi, Russia.

Image: Harry How/Getty Images

Anastasiya Kuzmina of Slovakia Collapses

Anastasiya Kuzmina of Slovakia collapses on the snow after crossing the finish line in the Women's 7.5 km Sprint during day two of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics at Laura Cross-country Ski & Biathlon Center on Feb. 9, 2014 in Sochi, Russia.

Leading the Pack

(L-R) Sjur Roethe of Norway, Alex Harvey of Canada and Martin Johnsrud Sundby of Norway lead the pack in the Men's Skiathlon 15 km Classic + 15 km Free during day two of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics on Feb. 9, 2014 in Sochi, Russia.

Jason Brown

United States skater Jason Brown performs in the Men's Figure Skating Team Free Program at the Iceberg Skating Palace during the Sochi Winter Olympics on Feb. 9, 2014.

Image: DAMIEN MEYER/AFP/Getty Images

Russian Figure Skating Team Celebrating

Russia's Nikita Katsalapov (L) and Russia's Elena Ilinykh (C) celebrates with their team after performing the Figure Skating Team Ice Dance Free Dance at the Iceberg Skating Palace during the Sochi Winter Olympics on Feb. 9, 2014.

Image: DARRON CUMMINGS/AFP/Getty Images

Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir

Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir of Canada compete in the Team Ice Dance Free Dance during day two of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics at Iceberg Skating Palace onon Feb. 9, 2014 in Sochi, Russia.

Image: Clive Mason/Getty Images

Women's Hockey, Germany vs. Russia

Team Germany talks at the net prior to their Women's Ice Hockey Preliminary Round Group B Game against Russia on day two of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics at Shayba Arena on Feb. 9, 2014 in Sochi, Russia.

Image: Martin Rose/Getty Images

Russia Ice Hockey Teammates Celebrating Win

Anna Shukina #21 of Russia celebrates with teammate Yulia Leskina #20 after defeating the Germany 4 to 1 in their Women's Ice Hockey Preliminary Round Group B Game on day two of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics at Shayba Arena on Feb. 9, 2014 in Sochi, Russia.

Image: Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

Sweden Team Celebrates Defeating Japan

Sweden's players celebrate after winning the Women's Ice Hockey Group B match Sweden vs Japan at the Shayba Arena during the Sochi Winter Olympics on February 9, 2014.

Image: ANDREJ ISAKOVIC/AFP/Getty Images

Men's Luge Singles Run

Austria's Daniel Pfister competes during the Men's Luge Singles Run at the Sliding Center Sanki during the Sochi Winter Olympics on Feb. 9, 2014.

Image: LIONEL BONAVENTURE/AFP/Getty Images

Hidenari Kanayama

Japan's Hidenari Kanayama competes in the Men's Luge Singles Run at the Sliding Center Sanki during the Sochi Winter Olympics on Feb. 9, 2014.

Image: LEON NEAL/AFP/Getty Images

Felix Loch Wins Gold In Men's Luge Singles

Felix Loch of Germany celebrates winning the gold medal during the Men's Luge Singles on day two of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics at Sliding Center Sanki on Feb. 9, 2014 in Sochi, Russia.

Image: Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images

Normal Hill Individual Ski Jumping Training

A general view during Normal Hill Individual Ski Jumping training on day two of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics at RusSki Gorki Jumping Center on Feb. 9, 2014 in Sochi, Russia.

Women's Snowboard Slopestyle Finals

Spencer O'Brien of Canada competes in the Women's Snowboard Slopestyle Finals during day two of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics at Rosa Khutor Extreme Park on February 9, 2014 in Sochi, Russia.

Image: Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

Jenny Jones

Jenny Jones of Great Britain competes in the Women's Snowboard Slopestyle Finals during day two of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics at Rosa Khutor Extreme Park on Feb. 9, 2014 in Sochi, Russia.

Image: Paul Gilham/Getty Images

The Medalists of the Women's Snowboard Slopestyle Finals

[L-R) Silver medalist Enni Rukajarvi of Finland, gold medalist Jamie Anderson of the United States and bronze medalist and Jenny Jones of Great Britain pose on the podium during the medal ceremony for the Women's Snowboard Slopestyle Finals on Feb. 9, 2014 in Sochi, Russia.

Image: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

Women's Speed Skating 3000-meter

Belgium's Jelena Peeters competes in the Women's Speed Skating 3000m at the Adler Arena during the Sochi Winter Olympics on Feb. 9, 2014.

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